Emily Taft is a history major from Jefferson, Ohio. She is minoring in sociology and education.
What do you enjoy most about studying history?
I love seeing the impact that the past has on our lives today. No action is without consequence and studying history can show how the consequences of past actions are still being seen in the present day. Additionally, I enjoy seeing how various social and political movements from the past can still influence our daily lives.
Why did you choose to be a history major?
I had amazing teachers throughout high school that piqued my interest in history, so coming to the university as an exploratory student, I knew that history was one of the subjects I was interested in pursuing. After taking a few history courses at Ohio State and seeing how vast the course offerings are, I knew that I wanted to study history full-time.
What are the favorite history courses you have taken at Ohio State and why?
I have loved all of the modern U.S. history courses I’ve taken, especially The Sixties (3017), Gilded Age to Progressive Era (3014), and the Modern U.S. History Seminar over Theodore Roosevelt (4015). I love being able to take such niche course! While specific, each of these classes greatly expanded my knowledge of American history.
If you could take the place of a historical figure (either dead or alive) for one day, who would you choose and why?
I probably wouldn’t want to trade places with anyone, but if I could meet any historical figure, I would likely choose Eliot Ness. He was part of the team that brought down Al Capone on tax-evasion charges and regularly disrupted his bootlegging business during the prohibition era. Ness also had a brief but interesting career working in Cleveland in the 1930s and 40s!
What’s one thing you wish every Buckeye knew about the past?
That studying the past can be fun! Too often, history is seen as just memorizing dates and names, but that is so far from the truth. The past is all about combining different narratives and crafting a story. Once you find a specific area or person that you enjoy learning about, you’ll begin to realize just how interesting history can be!
What do you like best about being a student at Ohio State?
There’s so much I love about Ohio State that I don’t think I can narrow it down to a single aspect! I love having such diverse courses to choose from and I also love that there are so many ways to get involved on campus. My favorite thing about Ohio State, though, is the people. All the amazing faculty, staff, and students at the university have truly made my Ohio State experience a great one. Go Bucks!